The Evil Genius in Descartes Meditations and its Role in Philosophy

Discussion Descartes meditation on First Philosophy starts with a radical doubt program where he questioned every uncertain belief. This element of doubt was further enhanced when Descartes contemplated possibility of being under control of an evil genius. This doubt endeavored to deceive Descartes maximally.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Evil Genius in Descartes’ Meditations and its Role in Philosophy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Descartes meditation on First Philosophy proposed thought experiments to facilitate his methodic doubt. In one of the experiments, Descartes posited that if there was an evil genius, then he could have made what was a lie look obviously true. If there was an evil genius, even most plausible beliefs could be in default. At that point of inquiry, Descartes could not prove the existence of such a powerful and malevolent creature. Descartes assumed the worst and worked from there. This strategy was extraordinary. In conducting practical affairs, Descartes attempted to channel his doubts in a fabric of beliefs that remained more or less fixed. However, the myth of malevolent genius deprived him of normal procedure (Descartes 50). The myth of evil genius demanded too much. Descartes thought experiment recommended universal doubt of all previous opinions and principles. It also recommended universal doubts of faculties whose veracity must assure a chain of reasoning deduced from some original principle which cannot be deceitful. The design of the myth on the evil genius indicates something about the extent and limits of our knowledge. Meditations on First Philosophy were written against the background of extravagant and conflicting claims about the nature of the world. The skeptical strategies Descartes employed were meant to deescalate the debate and to bring the discussion back to foundations (Descartes 50) Descartes Methodogical doubt and its Role in Philosophy The doubt strategy Descartes exhibited in the First Meditation was not an ordinary spontaneous doubt people experience in everyday life, nor was it an argument for global skepticism (Cottingham 12).Descartes methodical doubt was a thought experiment, which he used to clear his mind of preconceived ideas and determine foundations for his new philosophy. Descartes attempted to doubt everything he ever thought was true by attacking the sources of knowledge, such as; the senses, the mind and our imagination.Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In view of these three sources of knowledge, Descartes provides three reasons for doubting: one, the possibility that we are deceived by our senses leads him to conclude that we can never trust anything we learn through senses; two, the possibility that we now dream led him to conclude that we can never trust the content of our consciousness ; and three, the most hyperbolic doubt at the end of the First Meditation was the introduction of Malicious evil that deceives us about existence of the world (Cottingham 15) Conclusion In sum, Descartes did not blame God, whom he considered supremely good and the source of truth. Rather, he blamed some malicious evil of utmost power and cunning which used all energies to deceive him. He thought that the air, earth, colors, shapes, sounds and all external things were mere delusions of dreams which he had devised to ensnare judgment. This hypothesis implies an all encompassing doubt for it denies people trust on their senses, content of their consciousness and their ability to reason. The malicious evil causes all these illusions without any connection to a world outside our minds. In order for Descartes to lay the skeptical hypotheses to rest and find a foundation for certain knowledge, he needs to overcome malicious evil (Cottingham 13). Works Cited Cottingham, J. Renes Descartes M editation on First Philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996. Descartes, R. Discourse on method and the Meditations. Harmondswort: Penguin Books, 1968. This essay on The Evil Genius in Descartes’ Meditations and its Role in Philosophy was written and submitted by user Ian U. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.